Typographical distributing machine



Jan. 23, 1951 F. c. FROLANDER TYOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

IN VEN TOR BY I ATTORNEYS Jam 23, 1951 F. FROLANDER 2,538,902

TYPOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g INVENTOR W ATTORNEY? Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TYPQGRAPHIEAL.DISTRIBUTING Frank G. Frolander, Elizabeth, N. J assi'gnor to Mergenthaler hinotype Company; a corporation of New York Application, February 12., 1.948.. S- l 71,838"

. I Claims- This invention relates to typographical distributing machines of. the general organization repare directed to machines, of, the sc-called mixer 'yariietey', such as. disclosed in the; Kennedy Patent No. 1,705,977 or the Froland'er Patent No.

2,155,589 and exemplified in the commercial Linotype Models 29' and 30. I Thesemachines are equipped with two character distributors located at different levels, the lower one being connected "by means of a sh ort front magazine entrance to {the upper magazine which contains matrices of "onegfont, and, the upper one being. connected'by fmeans of a long rear magazine entrance to, the l'ower magazine which contains matrices of a 'difierent fontj The matrices are sorted according to font by meansof an adjustable selector bridge associated with the. distributor box for the upper distributor, this bridge being arranged to cooperate with notches. in the lower edges" of the 'matrices' of the respective fonts in such manner that; iithere is a notch in a matrix traversing the bridge and in alignment therewith, such matrix will ride lowacross the bridge and drop through iachute leading to the lower distributor, whereas if the matrix is devoid of a notch in line with the bridge, such matrix will ride high across the "bridge and pass to the upper distributor. Both magazine entrances are pivoted at their lower ends in order to be swung rearwardly from operativeposition, the long rear entrance being free at all times for such swinging movement without interference with any of the parts, and the short front entrance being similarly free. for such'swinging movement after the rear entrance has been moved out of'the. way.

Qne of the main advantages of this type of uma-chine is that it does away with the so-called p1 mary' distributor" and its distributor box wh are used. in the older mixer models, such for example; as the finotype'Model' 9. But'one o'f tli'e'. disadvantages-oi later mixer models isthe leaving none in the. magazine for the operator's continued use and without his knowledgev that the sup ly of matrices has been exhausted. In other words, it a matrix i any channel of. the long magazine entrance should be blocked at th entrance to the magazine, succeeding matrices will pile, up in the channel in; end to endv fashion, but without reaching the distributor screws... which are depended upon in such event to arrest the operation of the distributor; Such a condition does not apply to the short front magazine entrance whose length is only about one-half of. the

long rear magazine entrance.

The blockage of matrices" in a magazine entrance: usually comes about' because of the dinerence in width. of the matrices which the machine is called upon to handle. That is to say, and as is well known, the magazine entrances of all commercial' machines are; provided with partitions which, divide it into matrix channels and which guide the matricesby their body portions as they pass therethrough. In the case or thick-matrices, the partitions function veryefficiently but, in the case of extremely thin matrices; they function very inefficiently, since the thin matrices are free to assume a tilted or twisted position in the channels and cannot enter properly the magazine channels which, as is also well known, are constituted. by opposed grooves which guide the matrices by their projecting ears rather than by their body portions.

To overcome the foregoing defect, whether the magazine entrances are short or long, it-has' been the practice to form the partitions at their lower ends with laterally projecting flanges which are intended to engage the projecting ears of the matrices and guide-them in upright position into the magazine grooves. Usually, the partitions are also provided in advance of the guiding flanges with very light spring plates which are arranged. to engage the matrices by their body portionsand direct them to one side of the en:

trance channels before they reach the guiding .long: rear magazine entrance which is required to Y connect the upper distributor to the lower magazine, The length otthis. rear. magazine enisso great. that itmay accumulate, through all. of the matrices-oi a character,

flanges. These spring plates are made strong enough to exert the required guiding effect upon the thinnest matrix and flexible enough to be pushed aside by the thickest matrix without interrupting its passagei See, for example, the Kennedy-Patent 1,648,051 and the Hilpman Pat fen-t 2,073,209., which. latterdisc o s e at tbr most-improved arrangement. M For short magazine entrances the matrix guidingv flanges. and spring plates above alluded toha've proved to be highly successful but, for

long magazine entrances, they leave muchto be hIochaga-of its channels and witheut stoppin'g the have greater opportunity to assume a tilted or twisted position in the entrance channels before they come under the influence of the spring plates and the guiding flanges. Not only that, the width of the entrance channels in recent years has been considerably increased to accommodate extremely thick matrices, with the result that the spring plates ofier too great a resistance to the free passage of thicker matrices. In other words, the danger of blockage of the entrance channels may be due to an extremely thin matrix which, because of its tilted or twisted position, fails to straighten up under the influence of the spring plates or the guiding flanges, or it may be due to an extremely thick matrix which falls to get past the spring plates.

of the magazine itself; and moreover, the upper b entrance section is provided at its lower end with the aforementioned matrix guiding flanges and spring plates, just as if it were a full length entrance. While the actual length of the upper entrance section might vary, it preferably is made of substantially the same length as that of the short front magazine entrance which by experience has proved to be almost free of blockage under normal conditions. As a result of this arrangement, it has been found that the matrix guiding flanges and spring plates will act just as To these ends, specifically, the long mageihcientl in the long magazine entrance as they do in the short magazine entrance, the conditions being pretty much alike. In other words, the

thin matrices in passing through the long magazine entrance will have little or no opportunit to twist or turn out of upright position before they come under the guiding influence of the spring plates which then direct them into proper engaging relation to the laterally projecting flanges.

Once the matrices are under the control of the flanges, they of course are guided accurately and smoothly into the grooves of the corresponding channel of the lower entrance section. As for the thicker matrices, they too will have a better opportunit to pass the spring plates without being held up because of the braking resistance exerted thereon, and, indeed, the spring plates can be made more flexible than before because of the less tendency of the thinner matrices to assume a tilted or twisted position before they reach the guiding flanges. Howeven'should a. matrix become blocked at the lower end of the upper entrance section, due to the failure of the spring plates and guiding flanges to perform their intended function, only a relatively few matrices will be allowed to pileup in the blocked channel before the operationof the. distributor is arrested. Consequently, there will be'no danger of the sup-= ply of matrices of a particular character becomingexhaustedbefore the operator is informed, by

the stoppage of the distributor, that a blockage has occurred somewhere in the magazin entrance. To facilitate theclearing of this blockage, if'and-when it occurs, the upper entrance .like the magazine B, comprises side plates section is arranged to be swung rearwardly from its operative position, that is to say, out of receiving relation to the distributor and out of delivering relation to the lower entrance section. The lower entrance section-in fact both entrance sections as a unit-may also be moved from operative position to faciltate the clearing of any blockage which might occur in the lower entrance section or at the upper end of a corresponding magazine.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken through the distributing mechanism of a mixer machine, such as the Linotype Model 29 or 30;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the meeting end portions of the two sections comprising the long rear magazine entrance section in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 33 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing, in modified form, the meeting end portions of the two entrance sections.

The matrices are of usual form,, comprising body portions X which vary in width according to character, and projecting ears X which (though actually differing slightl in thickness) are of substantiall uniform thickness on all matrices, thick or thin.

The matrices are stored according to font in an upper magazine A and a lower magazine B, which are grooved as usual to guide the matrices by their projecting ears (see Fig. 1, which shows flared mouth grooves B in the bottom side plate of the lower magazine B).

Cooperating with the two magazines are two character distributors (each comprising as usual a toothed distributor bar to release the matrices at different points according to character and a distinct set of conveying screws for propellingthe matrices along the bar), a lower on C for the upper magazine A, and an upper one D for the lower magazine 13.

A short front magazine entrance E leadsfrom the lower distributor C to the upper magazine A, this entrance being of the usual partitioned construction and pivoted at E in the machine frame so as to be movable from and to operative position. In Fig. 1, the partitions of the entrance E, as indicated by the dotted line showing, are equipped with the customary matrix guiding flanges and spring plates which are relied upon to guide the matrices accurately from the channels of the entrance into the grooved channels of the magazine A.

- A long rear magazine entrance leads from the upper distributor D to the lower magazine B.

,Heretofore this entrance,li ke the short front entrance E, has been of the usual partitioned construction and equipped at its lower end, or imme diately adjacent themagazine B, with the customary matrix guiding flanges and spring plates. However, in the present instance, and according to this invention, the entrance is divided into two sections, an upper partitioned section F and a lower grooved section F Thus, the upper se'c tion F comprises a pair of side plates! andQ-i nftermediate partitions 2, which latter divide the entrance into channels, one for each character, and which guide the matrices by their body DOT-f tions. The lower section F on the other hand, and opposed grooves I 4 which. guide the 'matri the r-projecting ears and which-connect t 5 impending-channels ofthe sectionnamimagaiiine: B. Like the magazine grooves B ,v the en trance grooves 4' are flared at. their upper or receiving ends, as at. 4 to facilitate the entrance of the matrices from the upper section F into the lower section F -"Asf shown, the partitions 2 of the upper en trance section F are provided at their lower ends each with a pair of laterally projecting flanges 5 arranged to engage and guide the matrices by their'projecting ears X just before they enter the grooved channels 4 of the lower section F The lower flanges of each pair are formed with its-g cam surfaces 5 while the upper flanges of each pair are formed with shorter cam surfaces 53 The partitions 2 are also provided each'with $Espringplate 6 arranged. to engage the side faces er the matrices prior to the engagement of their projecting ears X with the cam surfaces 5 As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the spring plates 6 extend I across the entrance channels with their: free ends si'i'i'iiciently close to the Opposing "partitions to engage'the thinnest matrix which passes through the channels. It may also be noted that the spring 'plates 8 are of tapered form in the direc tidn' of their length and so disposed to engage the side faces of the matrices nearer their upper iedges than at their lower edges. In'short, the matrix guiding flanges 5' and the spring plates 5 are'substantially as shown. and described in the Hilprhan Patent No. 2,079,209" and function in the same manner, except for the fact that inthc present instance they are employed, to guide the" matrices properly from a partitioned magazine entrance section into a grooved magazine entrance section rather than directly into a maga zine.

According to the foregoing arrangement, as the matrices drop from the distributor D into the upper end of the entrance section F, they are obliged to encounter the spring plates 6 before they fully enter the entrance" section, it being noted that the spring plates are arranged near the upper end of the entrancesection or at: a distance. therefrom less than the length of a matrix. A s a result, the spring plates act to break the fall or the matrices as they enter the entrance section and ease the projecting ears X into. engagement with the long cam surfaces 5 of the lower guiding flanges, thereby obviating the damaging effect which might otherwise result from the matrix ears striking sharply on the cam surfaces; 'As the matrices continue their travel through the entrance channels, they are located positively by the long camv surfaces 5* inthe i proper sidewise position for the engagement of he ryn i cii s-ea .X. W h s a ht d e jgo rtior1's of bothfianges Eat the lower end of the "entrance section-.- .TIhe' spring plates 5' are not sistant enough by themselves to guide the inatrices into'their proper sidewise position, but

in cooperation with the long cam surfaces 5, the

spring plates, by engaging the side faces of the matrices near their upper edges. are stiff enough to maintain the latter in an upright position during, their sidewis move'mentftohifeventthem f m, tilting Z10! .liwisting' "Within that. entranc Enamels and to" guide them into engagement with. the flanges 5 in. an upright position. This action of the spring. plates willibe. the same irrespective ofthe thickness. ofthe passing matrices,

althoughv it will lie-understood. that the plates will-yield 'difi erent distances according to the thiclin'es'so'fthe ir'atricsacted upon. Once the flanges 5, they will be guided accurately and smoothly by their: projecting ears X! into the grooves 4 of? the lower entrance section F and the latter section will of course conduct; the matrices the remaining distance and deliver them into the grooved channels B of the mega.- zine B. In this way, notwithstanding the great length of the. rear magazine entrance, and notwithstanding. therather circuitous path the matriceshave to travel from the upper distribm tor D to the lower magazine B, the danger of blockage of the entrance channels is' greatly minimized but, as before pointed out, if such a blockage occurs it will take placeoat the lower end of the upper entrance section and hence will bring about a. quick stoppage of the distributor- D, since only a few matrices will be allowed to accumulate in the blocked channel. beforev they reach the. lower distributor screw and through'it, in the. usual way; effect the. throwout of the dis tributor clutch.

The-two. entrance. sections F and. F are mount.- ed in a swinging" frame G which is pivoted at G to the fixed machine frame so as to be movable from and to operative position at will, all in the usual way. However, the frame G, in

. the present instance, is. provided with a supple-- all mental swinging section G which carries. the upper magazine section F. This section G is pivoted to the frame G at G in order to allow the upper magazine section to be. swung. inde pendently from and to operative position (see the dotted line showing in Fig. 1) in clearing. a blockage which occurs in the upper entrance section. When in operative position the section G3 is' locked in place by a bolt G carried. by a bracket 6 timed to the frame G. 1 To insure. lateral. registration between the" upper magazine section F and. the lower magazine section B, the top side plate l of theupper section. F is cut away at its lower end and-the top side plate 3 of. the lower section F is extended as at 3 to' provide an overlapping fit between the two entrance sections at their line of junc, tion (see Fig. 2). As an alternative, both, the top and bottom platesiof. the upper entrance section may be cutaway at their lower ends and the top and bottom plates 3: of the lower entrance section. extended at their upper ends to provide for anoverlapping fit at both sides. of the en,- trance: sections. attheir line of junction (see Fig. 5). Itmay be; noted that the location. of the pivot G is such. that, notwithstanding such overlapping: of the meeting ends of the two magazine sections, the upper one is free. to be: moved from and: to its operativeposition without inter,- ierence. 1

Asshown. clearly in Fig. 1,, both sections-:5

and F of the; long rear magazine. entrance an...

curved; the. upper. section F extending downwardly and rearwardly from the upper distributor D, and the lower section F extending downwardly and forwardly from the upper section. This: particular arrangement of the long rear magazine entranceis typical of the modernmixer machines, suchas the Mode smzt and 30,, and is resorted. to in order to" give access: to the parts from the rear of the machine with the required facility. In other words, and as before indicated, both magazine entrances may be swungabout their respective pivotal axes E and G from and to; operative position without disturbing any; of the parts with. whichv jthey are assoelated ;the hns-ma azineentrems; lower-s4 bein o t that the latter may be swung through the same path for access to the upper magazine A and lower distributor C. By way of contrast, it may be stated that previously the upper magazine entrance was connected to the upper distributor and the lower magazine entrance to the lower distributor (see for example the Rogers Patents Nos. 767,169 and 799,943), but such an arrangement would obviously be unsuitable in mixer machines of the kind under discussion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A typographical distributing machine for handling matrices with body portions or" different widths and with projecting ears of substantially uniform thickness, said machine being equipped with two vertically disposed character distributors arranged at different levels and with two magazine entrances arranged one behind the other and both mounted to be swung rearwardly from operative position when required, the front entrance being short and leading from the lower distributor to an upper inclined magazine, and the rear entrance being long and leading from the upper distributor to a lower inclined magazine, characterized by the fact that the long rear magazine entrance is made in two sections, an upper one comprising a series of partitions which divide it into channels and which guide the matrices by their body portions, and a lower one comprising a series of opposed grooves which divide it into a corresponding number of channels' and which guide the matrices by their projecting ears.

2. A typographical distributing machine for handling matrices with body portions of diflferent widths and with projecting ears of substantially uniform thickness, said machine being equipped with two vertically disposed character distributors arranged at different levels and with two magazine entrances arranged one behind the other and both mounted to be swung rearwardly from operative position when required, the front entrance being short and leading from the lower distributor to an upper inclined magazine, and the rear entrance being long and leading from the upper distributor to a lower inclined maga- "zine, characterized by the fact that the long rear magazine entrance is made in two sections, an upper one comprising a series of partitions which divide it into channels and which guide the matrices by their body portions, and a lower one comprising a series of opposed grooves which divide it into a corresponding number of channels and which guide the matrices by their projecting ears, and supplemental matrix guiding means arranged at the lower end of the upper partitioned section and serving to direct the matrices properly into the lower grooved section. 3'. A't'ypographical distributing machine for handling matrices with body portions of different widths and with projecting ears of substantially uniform thickness, said machine being equipped with two vertically disposed character distributors arranged at different levels and with two magazine entrances arranged one behind the other and both mounted to be swung rearwardly from'operative position when required, the front entrance being short and leading from the lower "distributor to an upper inclined magazine, and the rear entrance being long and leading from the upper distributor to a lower inclined magazine, characterized by the fact that the long rearmagazine entrance is made in two sections, upper one comprising-a series of partitions whichv divide it into channels and which guide the matrices by their body portions, and a lower one comprising a series of opposed grooves which divide it into a corresponding number of chane nels and which guide th matrices by their pro.-. jecti'ng ears, and laterally projecting flanges arranged at the lower end of the upper partitioned section and serving to guide the matrices by their projecting ears into the lower grooved section.

43A typographical distributing machine for handling matrices with body portions of difierent widths and with projecting ears of substantially uniform thickness, said machine being equipped with two vertically disposed character distributors arranged at diiferent levels and with two magazine entrances arranged one behind the other and both mounted to be swung rearwardly from operative position when required, the front entrance being short and leading from the lower distributor to an upper inclined magazine, and the rear entranc being long and leading from the upper distributor to a lower inclined magazine, characterized by the fact that the long rear magazine entrance is made in two sections, an up er one comprising a series of partitions which divide it into channels and which guide the matrices'by their body portions, and a lower one comprising a series of opposed grooves which divide it into a corresponding number of channels and which guide the matrices by their projecting ears laterally projecting flanges arranged at the lower end of the upper partitioned section andserving to guide the matrices by thair projecting ears into the lower grooved section, and thin flexible spring plates extending across the channels of the upper section in advance of the proiecting flanges and serving to guide the matrices by their body portions into proper engaging relation to said flanges.

5. A typographical distributing machine according to claim 1, wherein the upper section of the long rear magazine entrance is of substantially the same length as that of the short from magazine entrance. 4

6. A typographical distributing machine according to claim 1, wherein the upper section .of the long rear magazine entrance is mounted for an independent swinging movement from opera tive position.

7. A typographical distributing machine according to claim 1, wherein the two sections of the long rear magazine entrance are both curved, with the upper partitioned section leading downwardly and rearwardly from the distributor and with the lower grooved section leading downwardlyand forwardly from the upper section.

8. A typographical distributing machine according to claim 1, wherein the length of the upper section of the long rear magazine entrance is suchthat, in the event of a blockage occurring inlone of its channels, the number of mat! rices which may accumulate therein will be less than the full supply of matrices bearing the particular character allotted to the blocked channel.

9. A typographical distributing machine accordingrt claim 1, and including means for in- Su -ring lateral registration between the upper lower sections of the long rear magazine entrance. J f

10. A-typographical distributing machine according to claim 1, wherein the upperand lower sections of the long rear magazine entrance are formed to overlap at their line ogjunction.

FRANK C}. FROLANDER. I

. Nowreferences at d'lijl. Irv 13.1,; 

